Disordered eating behaviours during the menopausal transition: a systematic review

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Endocrinology
• Nutritional Psychiatry
• Behavioral Medicine

Background:

• Disordered eating encompasses a spectrum of behaviors and attitudes toward food and weight, impacting well-being.
• The menopausal transition presents unique vulnerabilities due to hormonal shifts, symptomology, body composition changes, and psychological stress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review existing evidence on the relationship between the menopausal transition and disordered eating.
• To synthesize findings regarding associations between menopausal status, symptoms, hormone levels, and disordered eating patterns.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was conducted across major databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL) for studies published before October 2023.
• Ten studies investigating the link between menopausal transition indicators and disordered eating were included after screening 1301 records.
• The majority of included studies (n=9) employed a cross-sectional design.

Main Results:

• Preliminary findings suggest increased binge eating during perimenopause and more prevalent restrictive eating in postmenopause compared to premenopause.
• Studies examining menopausal symptoms indicated a significant positive association with disordered eating behaviors.
• However, the evidence is characterized by equivocal results and limited methodological quality across the included studies.

Conclusions:

• The menopausal transition may be a period of heightened risk for developing disordered eating patterns.
• Current evidence is limited and inconsistent, necessitating further high-quality research.
• Findings underscore the need for improved support strategies for menopausal women experiencing eating challenges.